WO2000004355A1 - Indicateur a usage unique pour thermometres medicaux - Google Patents

Indicateur a usage unique pour thermometres medicaux Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000004355A1
WO2000004355A1 PCT/US1999/015653 US9915653W WO0004355A1 WO 2000004355 A1 WO2000004355 A1 WO 2000004355A1 US 9915653 W US9915653 W US 9915653W WO 0004355 A1 WO0004355 A1 WO 0004355A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
thermometer
cover
region
temperature probe
single use
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/015653
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Peter S. W. Henwood
Original Assignee
Kroll, Michael, I.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kroll, Michael, I. filed Critical Kroll, Michael, I.
Priority to AU48699/99A priority Critical patent/AU4869999A/en
Publication of WO2000004355A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000004355A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B7/00—Instruments for auscultation
    • A61B7/02—Stethoscopes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01K13/00—Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
    • G01K13/20—Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
    • G01K13/25—Protective devices therefor, e.g. sleeves preventing contamination
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
    • A61B90/08—Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
    • A61B2090/0814—Preventing re-use

Definitions

  • the instant invention relates generally to single use, disposable covers for protecting medical thermometers from contamination by physical contact with the patient. More specifically, it relates to thermometer covers having a visually perceptible indication of use, so that the thermometer user can readily determine if the thermometer has been used, in order to ensure that contaminants are not transferred between patients. The invention also relates to single use disposable medical thermometers having a visually perceptible indication of use.
  • a primary object of the present invention is to provide a protective thermometer cover which reduces the chances of spreading contamination between patients by providing a visually perceptible indication that the cover has been used on a patient.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective thermometer cover which can be removably attached to the temperature probe portion of a thermometer and which undergoes a visually perceptible change upon contact with the patient.
  • An additional object of the present invention is to provide a protective thermometer cover which undergoes a visually perceptible change in color or opacity as a result of exposure to one of more of moisture, pressure, skin temperature and galvanic skin response.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable (single-use) medical thermometer which undergoes a visually perceptible change upon use, so that the thermometer is not reused on a subsequent patient.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective thermometer cover which is simple to make and easy to use.
  • Another object is to provide a protective thermometer cover that is economical in cost to manufacture.
  • FIGURE 1 is an overview of a typical medical thermometer.
  • FIGURE 2 is an overview of a typical medical thermometer utilizing the single use thermometer cover of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3 is an overview of a typical oral medical thermometer and single use thermometer cover of the present invention in use.
  • FIGURE 4 is an overview of a medical thermometer and single use thermometer cover of the present invention before usage.
  • FIGURE 5 is an overview of a medical thermometer and single use thermometer cover of the present invention after usage.
  • FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the single use medical thermometer cover of the present invention, wherein the thermometer cover material comprises a bilayer composite structure.
  • FIGURE 7 is a view identical to that of FIGURE 8, illustrating the visual change in appearance of one of the layers after use.
  • FIGS 1 through 7 illustrate a thermometer cover 10 having a single use indicator adapted to be removably secured to the temperature probe region 14 of a medical thermometer 10.
  • Most medical thermometers are generally cylindrical in shape and have a temperature display region 12 at one end and a temperature probe region 14 at the other end which is placed in contact with a patient during use.
  • the most common types of medical thermometers are designed for specific portions of the body, for example, oral, rectal otic and axillary thermometers are all known in the art.
  • the present invention is effective and appropriate for all of these applications, and any other thermometers and other medical devices which are placed in contact with a patient.
  • FIGs 1 and 2 illustrate a thermometer 10 without ( Figure 1) and with ( Figure 2) the cover 16 of the present invention in place.
  • the thermometer cover of the present invention is adapted to be removably secured to the thermometer 10 such that the temperature probe region 14 of the thermometer is completely covered, thereby physically isolating the temperature probe region 14 from contamination by the patient.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a thermometer 10 with a protective cover 16 in place, being used by placement under the tongue 20 in the mouth 18 of a patient. As can be seen in the figure, the cover 16 completely isolates the thermometer from the mouth 18 of the patient, thereby preventing contamination of the thermometer.
  • the cover is preferably made from a thin, elastomeric, liquid-impervious material such as, for example, latex.
  • the cover is generally cylindrical in shape, so that it snugly engages the temperature probe region 14 of the thermometer 10, thereby providing complete coverage of the temperature probe region 14, the portion which comes in contact with the patient.
  • the thermometer cover has a spiral rolled or raised edge, similar to that of a condom, in order to facilitate placement and removal, and also to ensure a snug fit.
  • thermometer cover of the present invention can take other forms than that described above, provided that the temperature probe region 14 of the thermometer 10 is completely covered.
  • a thermometer might not be generally cylindrical such as having a flattened end to facilitate thermal conduction.
  • thermometer covers which can be readily applied to and removed from any medical thermometer.
  • the present invention is intended to encompass all forms of protective thermometer covers, as long as they include a visually perceptible indication of use. This use indicator greatly improves the efficacy of the thermometer cover by providing a readily detectable indication that the thermometer cover has been used on a patient, is potentially contaminated, and should be replaced before the thermometer is used on another patient.
  • thermometer covers This avoids a major problem with known thermometer covers, namely, that there is no way to determine if the cover has been used on a patient. It can be readily appreciated that reusing a protective thermometer cover greatly diminishes its effectiveness in preventing the spread of contaminants between patients.
  • thermometer covers of the present invention can be designed to change color or opacity when exposed to one or more of the following: moisture, pressure, skin temperature or galvanic skin response.
  • Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a thermometer cover of the present invention before ( Figure 4) and after ( Figure 5) being used on a patient, with the cover having undergone a visually perceptible change in appearance after usage.
  • the visually perceptible use indicator can be either impregnated within the cover material, or can be disposed over the cover material as shown in Figures 6 and 7. If disposed over the cover material, the indicator can be either laminated securely over the cover or loosely oriented, such that the indicator is removed upon use, thus effecting the visual change.
  • thermotropic materials are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. patent no. 4,188,437 (Rohowetz). Speaking generally, these materials include thermotropic dyes which exhibit a visible color change upon exposure to a specific threshold temperature. There are many thousands of compounds available which are thermochromic at various temperatures; selection is a simple design choice. For the instant invention, the thermotropic dye should exhibit a visible color change at a temperature of from about 90 to about 95°F (about 32° to about 35°C).
  • Materials which change color upon exposure to humidity include, for example, metallic salts which change color upon exposure to moisture or humidity, which exposure changes the salt from its dehydrated to its hydrated form.
  • metallic salts which change color upon exposure to moisture or humidity, which exposure changes the salt from its dehydrated to its hydrated form.
  • cobalt salts such as cobaltous chloride, but again, there are many compounds to choose from, with the particular compound or combination of compounds a simple design choice.
  • Pressure sensitive compositions are also well known in the art, commonly comprising a plurality of adjacent dye layers which, when pressed together, combine sufficiently to exhibit a visible color change.
  • the cover can have on its surface a plurality of separate conductive ink patterns which are electrically connected to each other, whereby, upon being simultaneously placed in contact with skin, the patterns are actuated by resistor bridging, resulting in a perceptible change in the ink patterns.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Measuring And Recording Apparatus For Diagnosis (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une enveloppe de protection (16) pour thermomètre médical (10) présentant une partie sonde thermique (14), laquelle est placée en contact direct avec un patient une fois ce thermomètre utilisé. Cette enveloppe (16) est jetable et conçue pour être fixée de manière amovible à ladite partie sonde thermique (14), de sorte que cette enveloppe (16) entoure la totalité de cette partie sonde thermique (14), isolant ainsi celle-ci de toute impureté. Cette enveloppe est également pourvue d'un organe lui faisant subir un changement visuel de son apparence, une fois ledit thermomètre utilisé. L'enveloppe (16) de cette invention est de préférence fabriquée dans un matériau mince, élastomère, et imperméable au liquide, l'apparence de cette enveloppe changeant une fois celle-ci exposée à un ou plusieurs des facteurs suivants : l'humidité, la pression, le réflexe psychogalvanique, et la température corporelle.
PCT/US1999/015653 1998-07-20 1999-07-12 Indicateur a usage unique pour thermometres medicaux WO2000004355A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU48699/99A AU4869999A (en) 1998-07-20 1999-07-12 Single use indicator for medical thermometers

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/119,246 US6132086A (en) 1997-05-20 1998-07-20 Single use indicator for medical thermometers
US09/119,246 1998-07-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000004355A1 true WO2000004355A1 (fr) 2000-01-27

Family

ID=22383350

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/015653 WO2000004355A1 (fr) 1998-07-20 1999-07-12 Indicateur a usage unique pour thermometres medicaux

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US6132086A (fr)
AU (1) AU4869999A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000004355A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007137306A2 (fr) * 2006-05-24 2007-11-29 Daniel Adam Polakow Indicateur tactile

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10136642A1 (de) * 2001-07-20 2003-02-06 Biotronik Mess & Therapieg Medizinisches Einweggerät
US6851808B2 (en) * 2001-11-16 2005-02-08 Gregory L. Heacock Disposable Ophthalmic lens
JP2006506128A (ja) * 2002-11-12 2006-02-23 プロウロケア，インコーポレイテッド インテリジェント医療機器バリア装置
GB2402919A (en) * 2003-06-19 2004-12-22 Anthony Arthur Wills Single-use medical devices
US9134285B2 (en) 2006-11-30 2015-09-15 Sensor International, Llc Apparatus with timed color change indication
US20080129960A1 (en) * 2006-11-30 2008-06-05 Gregory Lee Heacock Disposable ophthalmic/medical apparatus with timed color change indication
US8663998B2 (en) 2011-12-09 2014-03-04 Gregory L. Heacock Color changeable dyes for indicating exposure, methods of making and using such dyes, and apparatuses incorporating such dyes
US9746421B2 (en) 2013-09-26 2017-08-29 Sensor International, Llc Apparatuses, indicators, methods and kits with timed color change indication
US11467422B2 (en) 2014-05-30 2022-10-11 Sensor International, Llc Carbon dioxide sensing color changeable dyes for indicating exposure, methods of making and using such dyes, and apparatuses incorporating such dye
US10759976B2 (en) 2018-03-23 2020-09-01 Sensor International, Llc Color changeable adhesives and methods of making such adhesives
US11346786B2 (en) 2018-10-09 2022-05-31 Sensor International, Llc High pressure sensitive color changeable indicators and methods of making such indicators

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3677088A (en) * 1971-03-04 1972-07-18 Bio Medical Sciences Inc Disposable type thermometer
US3712141A (en) * 1971-10-14 1973-01-23 Bio Medical Sciences Inc Disposable thermometer construction
US4195626A (en) * 1977-03-29 1980-04-01 Schweizer Helgi Jon Device for the production and application of body stimuli structures
US5322031A (en) * 1992-12-14 1994-06-21 Safety 1St, Inc. Color change nipple
US5359887A (en) * 1992-08-03 1994-11-01 Mc Donnell Douglas Corp Pressure sensitive paint formulations and methods
US5813992A (en) * 1997-05-20 1998-09-29 Henwood; Peter S. W. Single use indicator for stethoscopes

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3731685A (en) * 1971-04-01 1973-05-08 W Eidus Moisture indicating strip for diapers and surgical dressings
US3881873A (en) * 1974-04-29 1975-05-06 Iris B Klowden Moisture indicating probe and method of use
US4072054A (en) * 1976-03-09 1978-02-07 Michel Blouin Combined pacifying nipple and mouth thermometer device
US4201080A (en) * 1976-11-24 1980-05-06 Bernard Slepak Moisture indicator
US4184445A (en) * 1978-01-16 1980-01-22 Compac Industries, Inc. Soil moisture signaling device
GB2204874B (en) * 1987-05-19 1991-01-02 Rolls Royce Plc Temperature indicating paint and method of preparing a specimen with the same

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3677088A (en) * 1971-03-04 1972-07-18 Bio Medical Sciences Inc Disposable type thermometer
US3712141A (en) * 1971-10-14 1973-01-23 Bio Medical Sciences Inc Disposable thermometer construction
US4195626A (en) * 1977-03-29 1980-04-01 Schweizer Helgi Jon Device for the production and application of body stimuli structures
US5359887A (en) * 1992-08-03 1994-11-01 Mc Donnell Douglas Corp Pressure sensitive paint formulations and methods
US5322031A (en) * 1992-12-14 1994-06-21 Safety 1St, Inc. Color change nipple
US5813992A (en) * 1997-05-20 1998-09-29 Henwood; Peter S. W. Single use indicator for stethoscopes

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007137306A2 (fr) * 2006-05-24 2007-11-29 Daniel Adam Polakow Indicateur tactile
WO2007137306A3 (fr) * 2006-05-24 2008-01-17 Daniel Adam Polakow Indicateur tactile

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4869999A (en) 2000-02-07
US6132086A (en) 2000-10-17

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